Brussels on the Case of Aida Ćorović: Responsibility for War Criminals, Not for Those Who Oppose Them

(Patria) - Justice should ensure accountability for war crimes, not for protests against the glorification of war criminals, said European Commission spokesperson Ana Pisonero.

This is her reaction to the call to serve a prison sentence received by activist Aida Ćorović because she did not pay a fine for throwing eggs at a mural of war criminal Ratko Mladić.

In a response to Radio Free Europe, Pisonero stated that freedom of expression is a fundamental EU right that must be protected. She emphasized that any measure of arrest or criminal sanction must be justified and proportionate.

- Any such measure imposed on the basis of expressing political views is problematic and subject to strict limitations, as provided for in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights - Pisonero highlighted in a statement to RSE.

Incidentally, activist Aida Ćorović, along with her colleague Jelena Jaćimović, was taken into custody after throwing several eggs at a mural of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić in Njegoševa Street in Belgrade on International Day for the Fight against Fascism.

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Activist Aida Ćorović must go to prison for throwing eggs at Mladić's mural

(Patria) - Peace activist Aida Ćorović received a call today to report to serve a prison sentence because she refused to pay a fine imposed for throwing eggs at a mural of war criminal Ratko Mladić. In a statement to Radio

She received the final verdict of the Misdemeanor Appellate Court imposing a fine of 100,000 dinars (about 850 euros) on December 14, 2023. The verdict states that Ćorović violated the Law on Public Order and Peace by "throwing eggs towards a residential building" and insulting police officers while on duty.

Ćorović told Radio Free Europe on Thursday that she was given an eight-day deadline to report to the "Padinska skela" prison to serve a three-month prison sentence.

European institutions regularly highlight in documents the problem of glorifying and celebrating war criminals in Serbia. The latest progress report for the country reiterated the conclusion that a number of Serbian political parties and figures, including at the ministerial level, continue to provide support to convicted war criminals and public space for them.

According to the findings of the European Commission in its Annual Report for Serbia, convicted war criminals continue to spread hate speech in the public sphere, and certain politicians, the document states, continue to deny the Srebrenica genocide without consequences.

Ratko Mladić is a convicted war criminal - he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Court in The Hague for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.